I. Introduction
Since 1989 when the students in Environmental Studies 401 wrote their report "No Time to Waste", Middlebury College's Recycling Program has been expanded and transformed in many ways. Five years later, recycling has become an integral part of our lives here at Middlebury.
Informally, many codes of behavior and professionalism exist at Middlebury College. Most faculty and staff recycle, purchasers stock recycled products, and individuals minimize their waste as best they can. Middlebury College does not have any campuswide policies that require recycling or waste minimization, nor do we mandate that anyone buy recycled products (the only way to make sure there are markets for the materials we collect.) Again, informally, most buy recycled since it is what is currently available on campus. Much of what has happened in the past three or four years has been based on individual beliefs and personal commitments, not any long-standing edict from the College. Even the structure of the Recycling Coordinator's job was designed to be temporary.
In light of the fact that the College must operate under town and county ordinances and various state laws, it would seem appropriate that Middlebury College institutionalize its efforts to reduce waste and require the entire community to comply. Though this venture started out as a feel-good, be more responsible experiment, laws are now in place and put heavy demands on our behavior. Meeting these demands is difficult. It is time that the Administration make recycling a collegewide commitment. At times, it is still a peripheral and only when convenient issue. Vermont as a whole has progressed past this rendition of recycling and in order to be most effective in our endeavors, we must as well. Middlebury College must make a statement that can only come from the Administration.
Though the Recycling Coordinator makes waste reduction suggestions continually, the Environmental Council has included more suggestions at the end of this Report. The list contains ideas that have not been put into action simply for lack of time in the day. The Committee passes them on as a work list for the future. Others have not been attained although they have been attempted.
One initiative that has come about since the start of this Report is that Middlebury College signed the Buy Recycled Business Alliance, pledging to continue to increase its procurement of recycled products. This will be a task for a college that has made great strides already. In effect, this alliance could be used as the administrative mandate to ensure participation from the entire community.
It is important to understand that waste minimization exists on a continuum. There are a variety of efforts that must be combined in order to massively reduce waste. Some must take priority over others as they are proactive and cost-saving instead of reactive and potentially expensive. This hierarchy was taken from the State waste management plan, adapted from the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
Reduce waste and the toxicity of waste
Reuse waste
Process waste responsibly - recycle or compost
- Dispose - incinerate or bury
Over the past year, significant energy has been focused on making the concept of recycling palatable and convenient, as well as economically viable. A variety of departments has been engaged in this task, including the College Store, Reprographics, Purchasing, General Services, Dining Services, and many more. Now that recycling is widespread and well-known on campus, it is time to focus energies on techniques that are more effective than taking care of the waste the College has. The most efficient way to deal with waste is to avoid the generation of waste to begin with! As Middlebury College looks toward a future of becoming the Environmental College with Environmental Studies as one of our peaks, it needs to make source reduction a top waste priority. Middlebury needs to constantly ask: "How can the College avoid generating waste?" instead of asking what to do with it.
II. Relevant Laws
Local Law
Town of Middlebury - Ordinance Regulating the Collection and Disposal of Solid Waste
Purpose:
"To protect the health and welfare of the citizens of Middlebury and to promote the conservation of natural resources and the wise use of the environment, the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Middlebury hereby adopt this ordinance to regulate the separation, recovery, collection, removal, storage and disposition of solid waste, including recyclables, in the Town of Middlebury, Vermont."
In Article VIII, section 3, the ordinance specifically says:
"In accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to this ordinance, any person within the Town of Middlebury may properly dispose of recyclables at private collection facilities or at collection areas maintained by the Town of Middlebury or its designated agent for that purpose."
County Law
Addison County Solid Waste Management District Waste Management Ordinance
Purpose:
In addition to the above, "to regulate the separation, collection, transportation, recycling and disposal of solid waste within the District . . . to provide for the efficient, economical, and environmentally sound management of solid waste."
"All Generators within the District shall separate their solid waste according to the provisions of this Ordinance and any procedures or practices adopted by he Board of Supervisors to implement this Ordinance."
"Recyclables shall mean clear, green, and brown glass bottles and jars; aluminum, steel and tin cans; translucent high density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles an jugs (including, but not limited to, plastic milk, cider, juice, and water bottles); colored HDPE plastic bottles (including, but not limited to detergent bottles); polyethylene terephthalate (PET(E)) bottles; boxboard (including, but not limited to cereal boxes); corrugated cardboard; newspaper; glossy magazines, catalogs and other publications; and, from businesses, institutions, and government offices only, white typing, computer, copier, and notebook paper."
State Law
State of Vermont - Title 10, Chapter 159 & Act 78
Purpose:
"The developed world continues to pollute the environment and add to the depletion of the world's resources by burning and burying resources as waste. Furthermore, inefficient and improper methods of managing solid and hazardous waste result in scenic blights, hazards to the public health, cause pollution of air and waste resources, increase the numbers of rodents and vectors of disease, have an adverse effect on land values, create public nuisances, and otherwise interfere with proper community life and development."
These documents pertain mostly to the solid waste districts they create as well as the State of Vermont but not specifically to the generators of waste. These documents are available in the Appendix of this Report.
III. Recommendations
Maintain someone to coordinate the program. See Chapter IV, Environmental Coordinator.
Move from step 1, recycling implementation and expansion to step 2, considerable source reduction. See "Waste Reduction - The Ultimate Goal,"
Continue to increase procurement of recycled products as technology improves, markets regulate prices and capitalistic innovation invents them. See "Buy Recycled Business Alliance,"
Add waste minimization concerns into purchasing contracts and bidding specs. Force companies to meet Middlebury College standards in order to retain College business. Recognize the strength of Middlebury CollegeÕs purchasing power. See "Purchasing as a Waste Reduction Strategy," (p. 55)
Educate the community about the technology on campus (gopher, VAX, MS Mail, Internet, First Class, World Wide Web, new copiers, etc.) that can help them to minimize waste.
- Establish a formal recycling policy that reflects the institutional commitment to the program and environmental protection.
Suggested Policy
Middlebury College is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. One way to accomplish this end is through waste minimization. Waste minimization exists on a continuum encompassing the entire waste hierarchy of reduction, reuse, and processing (recycling and composting), in that order of priority.
In order to achieve the greatest possible waste diversion, Middlebury College is committed to educating the community about the benefits of waste minimization. These benefits include:
Conservation of natural and sometimes, non-renewable resources
Reduction of waste requiring disposal
Reduction of pollution associated with the manufacturing process
Potential to generate revenue from recycling markets
Contribution to the statewide waste diversion goal of 40% by the year 2000
- Responsible environmental leadership
By the same token, the College recognizes that recycling only truly happens when consumers close the loop through purchasing recycled products. Middlebury College is committed to using recycled products when quality and price are comparable, knowing that it will enhance the CollegeÕs ability to find markets for recyclables.
Procedures:
Follow the waste hierarchy outlined in Act 78:
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle or Compost
- Landfill or Incinerate as the last option
Although Middlebury College established its recycling program prior to the 1993 passage of the Addison County Solid Waste Management DistrictÕs (ACSWMD) ordinance, it will continue to comply with and exceed its standards. The College will manage a comprehensive program that combines many of the waste management strategies outlined above.
The College will maintain a member of the staff who will be responsible for overseeing waste reduction and recycling programs and providing education around these issues.
Middlebury College is a member of the Buy Recycled Business Alliance which promotes the increased procurement of recycled products.
IV. Waste Reduction - The Ultimate Goal
Today, our waste management issues are much more complex than those of the past. Old answers no longer work, and weÕre struggling to find new ones. So far, the new answers are expensive, but not as expensive as ignoring the problem. Sometimes a simple answer is the best way to begin solving a complex problem. If we simply produce less waste, our economy and the environment both benefit.
--Brown Kenneth, "Waste Prevention: Source Reduction NOW," Minnesota Office of Waste Management, 1993, p. 4.
A. Background
Waste reduction is accomplished through a variety of means: composting, recycling, reusing, incineration, and source reduction. All of these methods decrease the amount of waste to be disposed of, though some are more important than others. State and federal legislation prioritize methods of waste disposal. VermontÕs 1987 Solid Waste Law, Act 78, lists reduction first, reuse second, and recycling third. Overall, VermontÕs goal is to reduce discarded waste by 40% before the year 2000.
In 1990, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drafted a similar law regarding pollution prevention.
Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 (Section 6602.3b)
The Congress hereby declares it is to be the national policy of the United States that:
pollution should be prevented or reduced at the source whenever feasible;
pollution that cannot be prevented should be recycled in an environmentally safe manner when feasible;
pollution that cannot be prevented or recycled should be treated in an environmentally safe manner; and
- disposal or other release into the environment should be employed only as a last resort and should be conducted in an environmentally safe manner.
From this hierarchy, it is clear that waste prevention is the most favorable option. The EPA defines waste prevention as "the design, manufacture, purchase or use of materials or products to reduce the amount or toxicity of what is thrown out." Waste prevention, or source reduction as it is also known, is not only beneficial because it diminishes the volume of waste that we must dispose of, but it also helps to reduce the amount of energy required during the manufacturing process, thereby reducing the pollution created, and helps to conserve natural resources. Generally, source reduction lowers costs, not only of disposal, but of production as well. Waste prevention, not recycling, must become the focus of waste management efforts during the coming years. The EPA suggests eight basic strategies to prevent waste, many of which Middlebury College is already engaged in. They are listed below.
Use minimal or reusable packaging.
Use and maintain durable equipment and supplies.
Reuse products and supplies.
Reduce the use of hazardous components.
Use supplies and materials more efficiently.
Compost yard trimmings on site.
Exchange, sell or give away unneeded goods or materials.
- Eliminate unnecessary items.
As Porter Ball, the Recycling Coordinator for Addison County, would say, waste reduction efforts can be categorized in two ways, those that are symbolic and those that are significant. Symbolic ideas call attention to solid waste problems and keep people thinking about the environment. Significant ideas reduce waste in measurable amounts and conserve substantial resources. An example of symbolic might be to write messages on scraps of paper from the recycling bin. While this is a smart idea and can save paper, there is no real way to measure the results of this activity and show its success. A significant idea might be to copy course packets on both sides of the paper. If the class contains 100 students and has a course packet of 100 pages, then double-sided copying can save an entire ream of paper!
B. Some Tips to Reduce Waste on Campus - from: Environmental Protection Agency, "Business Guide for Reducing Solid Waste," 1993. p. 23.
Staff/Faculty Ideas:
make double-sided copies
use intercampus mail envelopes
reuse envelopes sent to you, like the big manila ones
omit the cover sheet when using the fax; write information on the first page or use one of those small fax post-its
keep mailing lists current
make scratch pads from used paper or get them at Reprographics
circulate memos, documents, periodicals, and reports instead of making individual copies for everyone
use electronic mail memos or a quick phone call in lieu of written memos
avoid printing e-mail messages; instead store them on your computer until you no longer need them; (use the multiple print per page function on some computers)
post messages on electronic mail
use the already established bulletin mailing system to reach the entire faculty and staff using fewer printed copies (great when you need graphics or want to reach employees without computers)
save documents on hard drives instead of making paper copies (keep backups!)
use spell check and print preview functions
proof documents on the computer screen before printing
use the back side of old paper to print necessary drafts
use outdated letterhead for memos within the department
return unneeded information, brochures, catalogs, etc. This will let the department, person, or company reuse the material. (This action is simplified on campus where postage is free and the envelope can be reused!)
eliminate unnecessary reports
use rechargeables wherever practical
avoid ordering excess supplies that may never be used
use a dry-erase board or chalk board
make only as many copies as you will need to avoid recycling unused memos, posters, and brochures
- use First Class to have students submit papers electronically
Departmental Ideas:
rent equipment that is only used occasionally
install reusable filters
purchase remanufactured office equipment
use the materials exchange on the gopher
order merchandise in bulk
purchase concentrates and products with minimal packaging
return cardboard boxes to manufacturers ( Dining Services does this with Frito-Lay)
request minimal and/or recyclable packaging
reclaim reusable parts from old equipment
choose a landscape design that needs low maintenance
reuse worn out tires for landscaping, swings, etc.
- find creative uses for waste, like experiments and class projects
Institutional Ideas:
adopt a company wide double-sided copying policy
make it more economical for departments to make double-sided copies than single-sided
negotiate take-back policies with suppliers whenever possible
reuse packaging materials
operate a Free Store where materials can be exchanged year round instead of running one office supply exchange per year
- use send and return envelopes for phone/tuition bills, loan payments, Annual Fund solicitations, etc.
C. Purchasing as a Waste Reduction Strategy
Middlebury should try to prevent waste before it is even a problem for us. Purchasers could continue to request that manufacturers minimize packaging or eliminate it altogether. The College could set up take-back policies in which companies would reuse their own boxes or containers for future shipments. This already happens on a small scale between Dining Services and Frito-Lay who retrieves their cardboard boxes delivered to campus. What Middlebury College needs to do is to "Make it clear in writing to [our] suppliers that [our] purchasing decisions include waste as a factor." This also includes purchasing products that can be repaired or refilled to extend their useful life. Here is a checklist of activities provided by the Minnesota Office of Waste Management:
1. Require manufacturers to state what theyÕre willing to do to reduce the amount of material of toxicity of their shipping containers while maintaining protection of the product.
too large or too thick?
are the dividers necessary?
are products individually wrapped?
could they be sold in bulk?
can packaging ink or plastic be reduced?
does it have to have polystyrene inserts?
- does the polystyrene have to be glued to the packaging?
2. Require the manufacturer to state the possibilities for using reusable shipping containers and packaging.
is backhauling possible?
are the containers reusable by others?
- are they repairable?
3. Write into the bidding request: "Preference will be given to products that create the least solid or hazardous waste while fulfilling the desired function."
can the product be reused, repaired, refilled or upgraded?
how accessible are the parts?
how cost effective are the parts?
how many years are parts guaranteed to be available?
what is the productÕs warranty?
- are quality remanufactured products available?
4. Any time two products are compared, user safety should be addressed. One product may be more hazardous and consequently less safe to use than the other.
D. Buy Recycled Alliance
Who: "Founded by the National Recycling Coalition, a non-profit organization representing diverse recycling interests, the Alliance has launched the Buy Recycled Campaign: a nationwide effort to encourage businesses of all sizes to increase the use of recycled content products in their day-to-day operations."
What: "All that is required is a commitment to increase your purchases of recycled content products-a move that will benefit both your company and the environment."
Why: "Collecting and processing materials are two parts of recycling. Buying recycled products and materials is the other part. Buying recycled closes the recycling loop."
"The Alliance provides information and guidance that helps your company save time and money setting up its own in-house Buy Recycled program."
Pledge: "We commit to buying recycled. As a participant in the National Recycling Coalition's (NRC) Buy Recycled Campaign, we are committed to increasing the procurement of products with recycled content.
Middlebury College Objectives:
to facilitate the increased procurement of products with recycled content; and
to increase the understanding of the value, reliability and performance of products with recycled content.
The College will:
survey current usage of recycled content products and report to NRC; and
- report progress annually to NRC.
Middlebury College is participating with a diverse group of businesses to demonstrate that "buying Recycled," as part of an integrated effort, is a practical, market-based solution to one of today's environmental problems.